An Associated Press (AP) reporter was present at a White House event on Tuesday for the first time since being barred by President Donald Trump’s administration in February. The ban had been imposed after the outlet used the term "Gulf of Mexico" in its reporting, defying the administration's directive to adopt the term "Gulf of America."

The journalist attended an afternoon gathering in the East Room but remains excluded from the official White House press pool. This limited access suggests only a partial reinstatement of the AP’s participation in White House coverage.

The move comes one day after officials reportedly blocked both an AP reporter and a photographer from attending a press conference held in the Oval Office. These decisions are unfolding despite a federal judge—appointed by President Trump—ordering the administration to cease its blocking of AP reporters from official events.

The legal and press freedom implications continue to unfold, as the White House maintains a selective approach to media access amid ongoing tensions with certain outlets. The return of an AP journalist to a public event, though not to the full press corps, may signal the start of a broader dialogue about media rights under the current administration.